Seventy-four years ago, during the early morning hours of Sunday, December 7, 1941, forces of the Japanese Empire launched a surprise and devastating air attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, home of the Pacific fleet. When the attack ended, the United States losses were 2,403 killed and 1,178 wounded in action, along with a long list of vessels totally lost and/or damaged, as well as a large number of aircraft. This action provoked the United States to declare war on Japan after an impassioned speech to the Senate by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
On September 11, 2001, another day that will live in infamy, the mainland of the United States was attacked in a series of suicide attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington by members of al-Qaeda with the result loss of nearly 3,000 civilians. The United States responded with an open war against terrorism.
Closer to home, in Boston on April 15, 2013 during the celebration of the Boston Marathon two explosions occurred, stopping the run while serving more than 200 people injured plus 3 spectators were killed.
Terrorists are everywhere, and they come from everywhere. The attacks carried out in New York were perpetrated by 19 foreigners from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon who came to Boston in separate flights and the Boston Marathon by two students from Chechnya, a region of Russia. They were living in the area.
Lately, terrorist attacks are being carried out by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) a terrorist group composed mainly of Syrian and Iraqi Sunni Arabs. They also have a presence in Afghanistan, North Africa and South Asia. The recent massacre carried out in San Bernardino, California by a married couple that, according to statements by FBI, the wife had ties with ISIS demonstrates that they are here in this country.
This Christmas, when families tend to congregate and enjoy peace, let’s pray for those who seventy-four years ago gave everything defending our principles and ideology and also for those who entered the burning towers, when everyone was trying to get out as well as our local heroes who went to help the victims of the bombs.
Let’s not forget their sacrifice and what they have done for humanity, especially, do not let their sacrifice be in vain!
